Loose leaf binder



May 24, 1932. w, WQLF' I 1,859,689

LOOSE LEAF BINDER Original Filed Nokr. 16, 1929 2 sheets-sheet 1 MLTER F%4 F.

By @Mwm.

A itorney May 24, 1932. w. F. WOLF ,689

LOOSE LEAF BINDER Original Filed Nov. 16; 1929 2 Shegts-Sheet 2 55 Inven for A itomey Patented May 24, 1932 UNITED STATES WALTER F. WOLF, OFNEW YORK, N. Y.

LOOSE LEAF BINDER Application filed November 16, 1929, Serial No.407,727. Renewed February 24, 1932.

This invention relates to improvements in loose leaf binders and hasparticular refer ence to a binder post lock therefor.

The primary object of the invention resides in abinder look by which thetop binder cover may be held in a clamped position against the boundsheets and which may be rapidly released for the removal of the cover toapply or remove sheets to and from the binder posts.

Another object of the invention is the pro vision of a binder post lockwhich embodies the ball-clutch and release principle, that is, the ballsprovided in a ball-carrier are wedged into clamping engagement with theblnder post, but may be released therefrom by outward movement of thecarrier, which move: ment is imparted thereto by the actuation of aslide member operatively connected therewith in a novel manner torelease the balls upon sliding of the same in one direction, and

for permitting them to effectively grip the post upon movement of theslide member in an opposite direction, the slide member remaining in theposition to which 1t 1s manually moved after each actuation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ball clutch and releaselock for binder posts in which the ball-carrier is provided with a headhaving its under side beveled for engagement by the opposed lugs carriedby the forked ends of an actuating slide mounted upon the binderclamplng bar, the lugs riding against the beveled surface of the headwhen engaged for the purpose of moving the ball-carrier from a lockingpos1- tion to a release position.

WVith these and other objects in view, the invention resides in certainnovel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, the essentialfeatures of which are hereinafter fully described, are particularlypointed out in the appended claims, and are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a loose leaf binder equipped with myimproved binder post lock and showing the lock in looking position.

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the binder with the top cover removedand showing the binder locks in unlocking position.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary end elevational view with parts broken away insection showingthe binder lock in looking position.

Figure 4 is a similar view, but showing the lock in a released orunlocked position.

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional View on the line 55 of Figure 4.

Referring to the drawings by reference characters, the numeral 10designates a loose leaf binder of the usual well-known constructionwhich includes a back cover 11 hingedly connected to the base clampingbar I mg bar 16. Mounted in the clamping bar 16 at any desired intervaldepending upon the space between the binding posts 13 are wedge blocks17 provided with conical shaped bores 18, the top of each wedge blockextending above the top surface of the clamping bar 16 and being closedby a plate 19, the said plate having an opening 20 there in for apurpose to be presently explained.

Slidably mounted in each of the wedge blocks 17 is a ball-carrier member21 which comprises a tubular body 22 through which a binding post 18 isfreely slidable, the lower end of the tubular body 22 being providedwith an external enlargement 23 which provides a shoulder between whichand the plate 19, an expansion spring 24 is interposed. T he spring 24tends to urge the bal carrier member 21 inwardly for a purpose to bepresently explained. The enlarged portion 23 of the ball-carrier .memberis provided with sockets 25 which open to the inner and outer walls ofthe tubular body and which have balls 26 seated therein. From thedescription thus far, it will be seen that the spring 24 tends to movethe ball-carrier member inwardly sothat the inclined wall of the conicalshaped bore 18 causes theballs 26 to be wedged into engagement with thebinding post 13 to which the binder lock is connected.

For the purpose of actuating the ball-carrier member 21, I provide thetop of the tubular body 22 with an enlarged head 27, the under side ofwhich is beveled as at 28. Slidably mounted upon the clamping bar 16adjacent each of the ball-carrier members is an actuating slide 29, thebody of which is provided with an elongated slot 30 for the passage of apin 31 fixedly mounted in the clamping bar 16, while the outer end ofthe said pin 31 is provided with-a head 32 for maintaining the slidemember fiat against the top of the clamping bar 16. The opposite ends ofthe slot 30 and the pin 31 coact to limit sliding movement of theactuating slide in opposite directions. One end of the member 29terminates in a fork or yoke 33, and bent upwardly from the branch armsof the yoke are upstanding humps or lugs 34 which are oppositelydisposed with respect to each other and the tops of which are roundedfor bearing engagement with the beveled face 28 of the under side of thehead 27. The lugs 34 are disposed opposite to each other so as to applyan even pressure to opposite sides of the head 27 during a bahreleaseoperation, and when the actuating slide 29 is moved to the limit of itsmovement to releasing position, the lugs 34 are disposed in alinementwith the axis of the binder post as shown in Figures t and 5 of thedrawings. The other end of the actuating member 29 terminates in aninclined upwardly extending finger-piece 35 which may be grasped by thethumb and forefinger of the hand during actuation and when the saidactuating member is moved to ball-release position, the top binder cover16 may be lifted free of the binding post to the position shown inFigure 2 by the same grasp of the finger-piece 35.

In practice, assume that the binder lock is in a locking position asshown in Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings and it is desired to remove thetop binder cover 15 for the insertion of new sheets to the binding post13 or the removal of sheets from the binding post. In locked position ashereinbefore mentioned, the balls 26 are in wedging engagement with thebinding post 13 and the actuating slides 29 are disposed in the positionshown in Figures 1 and 3. To remove the top cover, the operator graspsthe finger pieces 35 of the actuating slides 29 and proceeds to slidethem outwardly, thus causing the lugs or humps 34 to wedge beneath theheads 27 of the ball-carrier members, due to the beveled surfaces 28provided on the under sides of the heads. This wedging action causes theball-carrier members to move upwardly against the action of the springs24L, thus releasing the balls 26 from their gripping engagement with therespective binding posts. The parts have now been moved to the positionshown in Figures 2, 5, and 1 of the drawings, and by lifting upward, theoperator may remove the top binder cover 15 and its supporting partsclear of the binding post as shown in Figure 2, whereupon additionalsheets may be added to the binder or other sheets removed there- IIOIn.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that l have provided abinder post lock which involves the principle of the ball grip and.release and by which the gripping action of the balls is arrested by theactuation of a slide member fixedly tarried to the clamping bar of thebinder cover operatively associated with the spring-actuatedballcarrier. it will also be observed that when the actuating slidemembers are moved to ball-released position, they remain in suchposition to permit the binder cover to bereplaced to the binder afterhaving been removeo th refrom without further action, and when replaced,it is only necessary to actuate the slide members inwardly toward eachother, whereupon the springs 24: automatically depress ball carriers toallow the inclined walis of ;e wedge blocks to again force the balls 2Qinto gripping engagement with the respective binding posts.

i'iavin g thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a loose leaf binder having a post,a cover provided with a clamping bar, a bind erlocl: device carried bysaid clamping bar for cooperation with said post of the binder, saidbinder-lock device comprising a Wedge block mounted in said clamping barand having a conical wedging face, a plurality of balls arran ed tocooperate therewith, a springactuated ball-carrier for urging said ballsinto engagement with said wedge face, an enlarged head on saidball-carrier having its under side beveled, and a slide member mountedon said clamping bar, one end of which is forked, and upstanding lugs onthe forked ends of said slide member for wedging enga ement with thebeveled under face of said head for shift-ing said ball-carrier and saidballs into a position of disengagement.

2. in a loose leaf binder having a post, a cover provided with aclamping bar a binder-lock device carried by said clamping bar forcooperation with said post of the binder, said. binder-lock devicecomprising a wedge block mounted in said clamping bar and having conicalwedging face, a plurality of balls arranged to cooperate therewith, aballearrier mounted slidably in said wedge block for supporting saidballs, an expansion spring acting upon said ball-carrier to urge saidballs into engagement with said wedge face, said ball carrier extendingbeyond said wedge block and being provided with an enlarged head, theunder side of which is beveled, an actuating member slidably mounted onsaid clamping bar, and means on said actuating member engageable withthe beveled under side of said head for shifting said ball-carrieroutwardly against the action of said spring to release said balls fromengagement with said wedge face.

3. in a loose leaf binder having a post, a cover provided with aclamping bar, a binder-locl; device carried by said clamping bar forcooperation with said post of the binder, said binderdock devicecomprising a wedge block mounted in sait clamping bar and having aconical wedging face, a plurality of balls arranged to cooperatetherewith, a ball-can rier mounted slidably in said wedge block forsupporting said balls, an expansion spring acting upon said ball-carrierto urge said balls into engagement with said wedge face, saidball-carrier extenoing beyond said wedge block and being provided withan enlarged head, the under side of which is beveled, an actuatingmember slidably mounted on said clamping bar, and means on saidactuating member engageable with the beveled under side of said head forshifting said ball-carri =r outwardly against the action of said springto release said balls from engagement with said wedge face, said meansincluding opposed rounded humps rising from said actuating member.

ll. in a loose leaf binder having a post, a cover provided with aclamping bar, a binder-lock device carried by said clamping bar forcooperation with said post of the binder, said binder-lock devicecomprising a wedge block mounted n said clamping bar and having aconical wedging face, a plurality of balls arranged to cooperatetherewith, a ballcarrier mounted slidably in said wedge block forsupportin g said balls, an expansion spring acting upon saidball-carrier to urge said balls into engagei'nent with said wedge face,said ball-carrier extending beyond said wedge block and. being providedwith an enlarged head, the under side of which is beveled, an actuatingmember slidably mounted on said clampin bar, means on said actuatingmember engageable with the beveled under side of said head for shiftingsaid ball-carrier outwardly against the action of said spring to releasesaid balls from engagement with said wedge face, said means including afork on one end of said actuating member for straddling saidball-carrier, opposed rounded humps rising from the branches of saidfork, and an upwardly extending finger-piece at the opposite end of saidactuating member.

5. In a loose leaf binder having a post, a cover provided with aclamping bar, a binderlock device carried by said clamping bar forcooperation with said post of the binder, said binder-lock devicecomprising a wedge block mounted in said clamping bar having a conicalbore therein, a tubular ball-carrier slidably mounted in said conicalbore, a plurality of balls mounted in said ball-carrier having theirperipheries extending beyond the inner and outer side walls of said ballcarrier, a shoulder plate surrounding the exterior of said tubularball-carrier, an expansion spring interposed between one end of saidtubular ball-carrier and said shoulder plate to urge the balls intoengagement with the walls of said conical bore, an enlarged head on theouter end of said tubular ball-carrier, the under side of said headbeing beveled, an actuating member slidably mounted on said clampingbar, one end of said actuating member being forked, rounded opposed lugsrising upward from the forked portions for bearing engagement with thebeveled under side of said head upon sliding of said actuating member inone direction for moving said tubular ball-carrier outwardly to releasesaid balls from a clutching position.

6. In a loose leaf binder having a post, a cover provided with aclamping bar, a binder-lock device carried by said clamping bar forcooperation with said post of the binder,'said binder-lock devicecomprising a wedge block mounted in said clamping bar having a conicalbore therein, a tubular ballcarrier slid-ably mounted in said conicalbore, a plurality of balls mounted in said ballcarrier having theirperipheries extending beyond the inner and outer side walls of saidball-carrier, a shoulder plate surrounding the exterior of said tubularball-carrier, an expansion spring interposed between one end of saidtubular ball-carrier and said shoulder plate to urge the balls intoengagement with the walls of said conical bore, an enlarged head on theouter end of said tubular ball carrier, the under side of said headbeing beveled, an actuating member slidably mounted on said clampingbar, one end of said actuating member being forked, rounded opposed lugsrising upward from the forked portions for hearing engagement with thebeveled under side of said head upon sliding of said actuating member inone direction for moving said tubular ball-carrier outwardly to releasesaid balls from a clutching position, an angular finger-piece extendingfrom the opposite end of said actuating memher by which manual slidingmay be im parted thereto and by which the cover may be lifted when saidactuating member is in a ball-release position.

7. In a loose leaf binder having a post, a cover provided with aclamping bar, a binder lock device carried by said clamping bar forcooperation with said post of the binder, said binder lock devicecomprising a wedge block mounted in said clamping bar having a comcalbore therein, a tubular ball-carrier slidably mounted in said conicalbore, a plurality of balls mounted in said ball-carrier having theirperipheries extending beyond the inner and outer side walls of saidbalLcarrier, a shoulder plate surrounding the exterior of said tubularball-carrier, an expansion spring interposed between one end of saidtubular ball-carrier and said shoulder plate to urge the balls intoengagement with the Walls of said conical bore, an enlarged head on theouter end of said tubular ball-carrier, the under side of said headbeing beveled, an actuating member slidably mounted on said clampingbar, said member having an elongated slot therein, one end of saidactuating member being; forked, rounded opposed lugs rising upward fromthe forked portions for bearing engagement with the beveled under side01 said head upon sliding of said actuating member in one direction formoving said tubular ball-carrier outwardly to release said balls from aclutching position, and means for limiting sliding movement of saidactuating member in opposite directions including a headed stud securedto said clamping bar and extending through said slot.

8. In a binder. binder posts, a clamping bar, clutch mechanisms carriedby said clamging bar for clutching; engagement with the respectivebinder posts, each of said clutch mechanisms including a headed memberPIOVlClQCl with an under bevel face, and means on said clamping bar forreleasing said clutch mechanism and for holding the same in releasedposition, said lastmeans including a slidable cam member engageable withthe bevel face of said headed member.

9. in a binder binder posts, a clamping bar slidable on said binderposts, clutch mechanisms carried by said clamping bar for clutchingengagement with said binder pests, each o said clutch mechanismsincluding a headed tubular body slidable along its adjacent postprovided with an under bevel face and cam members each slidably mountedupon said clamping bar for engagement with the beveled face of arespective one of said bodies to actuate said bodies when said cammembers are moved into operative engagement therewith.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

WALTER F. WOLF.

